From supported homogeneous catalysts to heterogeneous molecular catalysts

Modified nano magnetic Fe2O3-MgO as a high active multifunctional heterogeneous catalyst for environmentally beneficial carbon-carbon synthesis

In this study, novel nanomagnetic catalysts, namely Fe2O3-MgO@choline formate (Ch. F.) and Fe2O3-MgO@choline cyanide (Ch. CN), were synthesized through immobilizing choline-based ion liquids to magnetic support via a simple and cost-effective methodology. FT-IR, TGA, FE-SEM, VSM, EDS, BET, and XRD techniques were employed to assess and characterize these organic-inorganic compounds. Following the successful preparation of nanoparticles, the catalysts were utilized in Knoevenagel and benzoin condensations. Fe2O3-MgO@Ch.F. exhibited exceptional activity in Knoevenagel condensation under solvent-free conditions at room temperature, achieving high yields (91-98%) in a short timeframe. Similarly, Fe2O3-MgO@Ch.CN demonstrated remarkable activity in benzoin condensation under environmentally friendly solvent conditions, yielding higher isolated yields (76-88%). Furthermore, these magnetically recyclable multifunctional catalysts displayed the ability to be reused up to five times without a significant loss in efficiency. Additionally, the heterogeneity of this nanocatalyst was investigated using the hot filtration technique. The findings indicated that the reaction primarily occurs via a heterogeneous pathway.

Kinetic Promoters for Sulfur Cathodes in Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

ConspectusLithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries have attracted worldwide attention as promising next-generation rechargeable batteries due to their high theoretical energy density of 2600 Wh kg-1. The actual energy density of Li-S batteries at the pouch cell level has significantly exceeded that of state-of-the-art Li-ion batteries. However, the overall performances of Li-S batteries under practical working conditions are limited by the sluggish conversion kinetics of the sulfur cathodes. To overcome the above challenge, various kinetic promotion strategies have been proposed to accelerate the multiphase and multi-electron cathodic redox reactions between sulfur, lithium polysulfides (LiPSs), and lithium sulfide. Nowadays, kinetic promoters have been massively employed in sulfur cathodes to achieve Li-S batteries with high energy densities, high rates, and long lifespans. A comprehensive and timely summary of cutting-edge kinetic promoters for sulfur cathodes is of great essence to afford an in-depth understanding of the unique Li-S electrochemistry.In this Account, we outline the recent efforts on the design of sulfur cathode kinetic promoters for advanced Li-S batteries. The latest progress is discussed in detail regarding heterogeneous, homogeneous, and semi-immobilized kinetic promoters. Heterogeneous promoters, representatively known as electrocatalysts, function mainly by reducing the energy barriers of the interfacial electrochemical reactions. The working mechanism, activity regulation strategies, and reconstitution/deactivation processes of the heterogeneous promoters are reviewed to provide guiding principles for rational design. In comparison, homogeneous promoters are able to fully contact with the reaction interfaces and regulate the electron/ion-inaccessible reactants in working Li-S batteries. Redox mediators and redox comediators are typical homogeneous promoters. The former establishes extra chemical reaction pathways to circumvent the originally sluggish steps and boost the overall kinetics, while the latter fundamentally modifies the LiPS molecules to enhance their redox kinetics. For semi-immobilized promoters, the active units are generally anchored on the cathode substrate through flexible chains with mobile characteristics. Such a design endows the promoter with both heterogeneous and homogeneous characteristics to comprehensively regulate the multiphase sulfur redox reactions involving both mobile and immobile reactants.Overall, this Account summarizes the fundamental electrochemistry, design principles, and practical promotion effects of the various kinetic promoters used for the sulfur cathodes in Li-S batteries. We believe that this Account will provide an in-depth and cutting-edge understanding of the unique sulfur electrochemistry, thereby providing guidance for further development of high-performance Li-S batteries and analogous rechargeable battery systems.

Wood-Sourced Polymers as Support for Catalysis by Group 10 Transition Metals

Despite providing interesting solutions to reduce the number of synthetic steps, to decrease energy consumption or to generate less waste, therefore contributing to a more sustainable way of producing important chemicals, the expansion of the use of homogeneous catalysis in industrial processes is hampered by several drawbacks. One of the most important is the difficulty to recycle the noble metals generating potential high costs and pollution of the synthesized products by metal traces detrimental to their applications. Supporting the metals on abundant and cheap biosourced polymers has recently appeared as an almost ideal solution: They are much easier to recover from the reaction medium and usually maintain high catalytic activity. The present bibliographical review focuses on the development of catalysts based on group 10 transition metals (nickel, palladium, platinum) supported on biopolymers obtained from wood, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and their derivatives. The applications of these catalysts in organic synthesis or depollution are also addressed in this review with examples of C-C couplings, oxidation, or hydrogenation reactions.

New Approach for the One-Pot Synthesis of 1,3,5-Triazine Derivatives: Application of Cu(I) Supported on a Weakly Acidic Cation-Exchanger Resin in a Comparative Study

An efficient and simple methodology for Ullmann Cu(I)-catalyzed synthesis of di- and trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives from dichlorotriazinyl benzenesulfonamide and corresponding nucleophiles is reported. Cations Cu(I) supported on macroporous and weakly acidic, low-cost industrial resin of polyacrylate type were used as a catalyst. The reaction times and yields were compared with traditional synthetic methods for synthesis of substituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives via nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atoms in dichlorotriazinyl benzenesulfonamide. It was found that Ullmann-type reactions provide significantly shortened reaction times and, in some cases, also higher yields. Finally, trisubstituted s-triazine derivatives were effectively prepared via Ullmann-type reaction in a one-pot synthetic design. Six new s-triazine derivatives with potential biological activity were prepared and characterized.

In situ formation of molecular Ni-Fe active sites on heteroatom-doped graphene as a heterogeneous electrocatalyst toward oxygen evolution

Molecularly well-defined Ni sites at heterogeneous interfaces were derived from the incorporation of Ni2+ ions into heteroatom-doped graphene. The molecular Ni sites on graphene were redox-active. However, they showed poor activity toward oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in KOH aqueous solution. We demonstrated for the first time that the presence of Fe3+ ions in the solution could bond at the vicinity of the Ni sites with a distance of 2.7 Å, generating molecularly sized and heterogeneous Ni-Fe sites anchored on doped graphene. These Ni-Fe sites exhibited markedly improved OER activity. The Pourbaix diagram confirmed the formation of the Ni-Fe sites and revealed that the Ni-Fe sites adsorbed HO- ions with a bridge geometry, which facilitated the OER electrocatalysis.

Schiff base-functionalized mesoporous silicas (MCM-41, HMS) as Pb(ii) adsorbents

MCM-41@salen, HMS-C12@salen and HMS-C16@salen sorbents present high sorption capacities for Pb(ii) and are suitable materials for the removal of Pb(ii).

Enhanced anticancer effect of copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles against osteosarcoma

In this study, copper-loaded chitosan nanoparticles were prepared for the effective treatment of osteosarcoma.

Monodispersed Pd Nanoparticles Supported on Mg-Al Mixed Metal Oxides: A Green and Controllable Synthesis

Aimed at the green synthesis of supported noble metal nanoparticles without any additional reducing agents or stabilizers at room temperature, a new strategy in which monodispersed Pd nanoparticles were successfully immobilized on Mg-Al mixed metal oxides derived from layered double hydroxides was developed, and the reduction mechanism was also proposed. It allowed the in situ immobilization of monodispersed Pd nanoparticles with a face-centered cubic structure, using only alcohols with α-hydrogen atom as the solvent and reducing agent. Control over the mean particle size and content of Pd nanoparticles was realized by adjusting the temperature, initial concentration, and type of alcohol. With the content of Pd varied from 6.4 to 42.3 mg/g, the mean particle size of Pd increased from 1.1 to 4.9 nm. The as-prepared catalyst showed high catalytic activity for oxidation of benzyl alcohol: when the Pd content was 6.4 mg/g, conversion of 60.3% and selectivity of 99.2% were obtained with a turnover frequency of 4807 h^-1. Similarly, on the basis of the high stand electrode potentials, immobilized Ag (5.6 nm) and Au (4.7 nm) nanoparticles were also prepared through this methodology. Moreover, the choice of supports was extended to other powder supports that would react with the byproduced acid. Overall, this facile method opens up new opportunities for controllable synthesis of supported nanoparticle catalysts in a green way.

Probing Heterogeneity and Bonding at Silica Surfaces through Single-Molecule Investigation of Base-Mediated Linkage Failure

The nature of silica surfaces is relevant to many chemical systems, including heterogeneous catalysis and chromatographies utilizing functionalized-silica stationary phases. Surface linkages must be robust to achieve wide and reliable applicability. However, silyl ether-silica support linkages are known to be susceptible to detachment when exposed to basic conditions. We use single-molecule spectroscopy to examine the rate of surface linkage failure upon exposure to base at a variety of deposition conditions. Kinetic analysis elucidates the role of thermal annealing and addition of blocking layers in increasing stability. Critically, it was found that successful surface modification strategies alter the rate at which base molecules approach the silica surface as opposed to reducing surface linkage reactivity. Our results also demonstrate that the innate structural diversity of the silica surface is likely the cause of observed heterogeneity in surface-linkage disruption kinetics.

Support effects on SILP hybrid catalysts prepared with carbon materials and the RhCOD complex

Carbon materials of suitable porosity and surface chemistry are promising supports for SILP hybrid catalysts.

Synthesis, characterization and immobilization of a new cobalt(ii) complex on modified magnetic nanoparticles as catalyst for epoxidation of alkenes and oxidation of activated alkanes

The [Co(2-hydroxy1naphtaldehyde)₂(DMF)₂] complex 1 was prepared and supported on modified Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) and designated as Fe₃O₄@SiO₂@APTMS@complex 1 nanocatalyst.

Nanoparticle electrochemistry

This perspective article provides a survey of recent advances in nanoscale electrochemistry, with a brief theoretical background and a detailed discussion of experimental results of nanoparticle based electrodes, including the rapidly expanding field of “impact electrochemistry”.

Immobilisation of a molecular epoxidation catalyst on UiO-66 and -67: the effect of pore size on catalyst activity and recycling

Amino-functionalised metal-organic frameworks UiO-66 and -67 were post-synthetically modified with salicylaldehyde. A molybdenum complex was immobilised on the resulting materials. They were characterised by (13)C-MAS-NMR, XPS and PXRD to confirm immobilisation and stability. The immobilised complex is an active and reusable catalyst for olefin epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. It is shown that the effective pore size, probed with Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis and the number of amino groups affect the diffusion of reactants and products, as well as catalyst recycling.

Development of an efficient magnetically separable nanocatalyst: theoretical approach on the role of the ligand backbone on epoxidation capability

The epoxidation property of an asymmetric iron complex has been experimentally and theoretically verified. This catalyst further conjugated with dopamine modified Fe₃O₄ to obtain magnetically separable nano-catalyst.

Palladium nanoparticles supported on 1,3-dicyclohexylguanidine functionalized mesoporous silica SBA-15 as highly active and reusable catalyst for the Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction

The synthesis and application of SBA-15/1,3-DCG/Pd as a novel heterogeneous and reusable nano catalyst in Suzuki reactions was described.